First Automobile Registered in 1908
First four vehicles registered in Moore County were 1908 Reos.
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As Moore County was being settled in the early 1900's, transportation was by wagon, buggy, horse or mule.
Some families began looking at a modern form of transportation -- an automobile. Between March of 1908 and February of 1913, only ten vehicles were registered. The first four were 1908 Reos. Registration Number One was to Bob Powell for the Farmers Colonization Co., registered on March 18, 1908. Registration Number Two was also to Bob Powell. J. L. McFarlin was Registration Number Three on March 11, 1908. Allie Harris was Registration Number Four on May 2, 1908. Reo vehicles were manufactured in Lansing, Michigan, from 1905 to 1975.
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1909 Ford
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One vehicle was registered in 1909, this one to Wiley Fox on October 16, 1909, for a Ford. No vehicles were registered in 1910.
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1911 Ford
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Two vehicles were listed for 1911. J. L. T. Claybrook registered a Ford on January 16, 1911, and R. L. Allen registered an E. M. F. (Everett-Metzger-Flanders) on May 20. The E. M. F. was produced from 1909 to 1912.
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1911 E. M. F.
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1912 Overland
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W. J. Morton registered the only vehicle in 1912, an Overland on November 12. From 1912 to 1918, Overland was the largest producer of automobiles in the United States. It became the Willys-Overland Company.
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1913 Buick
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C. R. Jones registered a Buick on February 5, 1913, and L. B. Watkins registered his Cadillac on February 19, 1913.
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1913 Cadillac
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The new form of transportation had a difficult start. Roads were made for buggies and wagons and were rough for automobiles. Getting service was another problem and it usually involved a day (or longer) trip to Amarillo.
One day, the C. R. Jones family took their new 1912 Buick to Dalhart for a ride and coming home, it got stuck in a creek. It was three hours before they were out and traveling again.
Another story was told of a man who bought one of the "gasoline-powered vehicles", even thought he couldn't drive. The vehicle was stored in a shed next to his house. He became concerned that the weight of the vehicle on the tires would damage the tires, so he set it up on blocks. There it sat! When he wanted to use it, he would remove the blocks and hire someone to drive him where he wanted to go.
One day, the C. R. Jones family took their new 1912 Buick to Dalhart for a ride and coming home, it got stuck in a creek. It was three hours before they were out and traveling again.
Another story was told of a man who bought one of the "gasoline-powered vehicles", even thought he couldn't drive. The vehicle was stored in a shed next to his house. He became concerned that the weight of the vehicle on the tires would damage the tires, so he set it up on blocks. There it sat! When he wanted to use it, he would remove the blocks and hire someone to drive him where he wanted to go.